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Lindsay Lohan: Time to make a deal in necklace theft case?

March 10, 2011 | 7:03
am

Lindsay Lohan goes back to court Thursday, but it's unclear whether she is any closer to a plea deal in her necklace theft case.

Lohan, who faces felony charges for allegedly taking the necklace from a Venice jewelry store, has been seeking a deal that would avoid jail time. But at her last court appearance, Judge Keith Schwartz seemed to close that door.

Schwartz said that if Lohan rejects the offer, the case will be set for a preliminary hearing in front of another judge. She was told she needed to decide before Thursday's hearing.

The felony grand theft charges are by far the most serious she's faced, and if convicted they could bring her significant jail time. Lohan has pleaded not guilty.

Law enforcement sources told The Times that the case against Lohan includes store surveillance video showing the actress wearing the necklace. Paparazzi photos taken days later also show the actress wearing the necklace. The case file also includes statements from people who were inside the store at the same time as Lohan, said the sources, who spoke on the condition that they not be named because the case was ongoing.